Wrench or tool



Nov. 20, 1923 31,474,798

L. STARK WRENCH OR TOOL Filed Dec. 5, 1921 Patented Nov. to, teas.

LUDWIG STARK,

earner (EFFECTS...

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T FLEXO WRENCH AND TOOL CGMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS, A CORPORATION.

gwnnncn on TOOL.

Application filed Deceniber 5, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUnwIe STARK, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Wrenches or Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches or other similar tools requiring rotation there- 1 of to produce the desired result.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby a ratchet device and a universal joint device are combined to advantage and in a novel and beneficial way in a tool of this general class.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general 29 efiiciency and the desirability of a ratchet wrench or other tool of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ratchet wrench involving the principles of the invention, showing the head or engaging end of the wrench turned at right angles to the handle thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sect1on of the socket and ratchet and universal joint portions of the wrench, showing the same in alinement.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the parts turned around for a quarter of the circumference thereof.

Figure 4; is a detail section on hne l4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6, is a diagram of the cam rln which is held in one hand while the handle is operated by the other hand, and which controls the reversible ratchet device, whereby the tool can be rotated by the ratchet in either direction.

Figure 7 is a plan of said ratchet rmg. As thus illustrated, the wrench comprises a handle 1 which is grasped by one hand, a ratchet ring 2, which is grasped by the other hand, and a universal joint 3 to connect the handle with the ratchet device, together with a Socket piece 4, for engaging a nutor groove 6 in theball Serial No. 519,948.

the head of a bolt, or for holding a wrench socketipiece of a different size, or for holding any other suitable or desired tool, it being obvious that the structure involving the combination of the universal joint and the ratchet device may be used in a tool of any suitable or. desired character requiring rotation thereof in this general manner. Through the medium of the ratchet device, the handle can be turned or rotated in either direction about its longitudinal axis, to rotate the socket piece 4 in either direction, while the parts are in alinement, or at any time when the socket piece and the handle form a more or less obtuse angle permitting the universal joint 3 to function properly.

f course, when the socket piece and the handle are at right angles, as shown in Figure 1, then the socket piece can be rotated by swinging the handle 1 back and forth about the axis of the socket piece, or by swinging the handle clear around about said axis.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 5, it will be seen that the universal joints 3 comprises a ball 5 having two circumferential or annular grooves 6 formed therein, with the axis of one circular groove intersecting and disposed at right angles to the axis of the other groove. The upper fork or bifurcated member 7 of the universal joint is removably secured to the handle 1 by means of a pin or rivet 8, and by means of the sleeve 9, in any suitable or desired manner. This fork onbifurcated member 7 engages one of the grooves 6 and is provided witha notch 10 in its "upper side, and with an opening 11 in its lower side, whereby it hasthe general form of a fork or bifurcated member. The lower fork or bifurcated member 12 is similarly formed, and engages the other 5, this member 12 having a notch 13 at its lower side, and an opening 14 at its upper side. This construction permits the flexing of the universal joint about either axis thereof, the two axes, as previously stated, being disposed at right angles to each other, with one axis intersecting the other. The lower member 12 is secured to the ratchet member 15 by a pin or rivet 16, in the manner shown, or in any suitable or desired manner. Straight pins may be used in place of the two rivets 8 and 16, which can be forced out to permit the wrench to be taken apart, Ratchet dogs 17 and 18, are dsposed opposite each other, in the ratchet member 15, with springs 19 to press them downward, it being observed that these two dogs have the lower ends beveled in opposite directions, whereby they are adapted to have a true ratchet engagement with the holes 20 in the top of the socket piece 4, when the handle is rotated or swung from. one side to the other. The

other two ratchet dogs 21 and 22 are dis posed between the previously mentioned dogs, so that the four dogs are equally spaced around the circumference of the tool, as shown more clearly in Figure 4, but the dogs 21 and 22 are beveled in opposite directions so that their bevels face in the same direction circumferentially of the tool, and in the opposite direction to the bevels of the dogs 17 and 18, which latter follow each other and face in the same direction also. The said dogs are each provided with a lateral projection 23 to engage the cam ring 2 previously mentioned, this ring having its inner cylindrie surface formed with four cam recesses 24, 25, 26, and 27, as indicated in Figure 6, the latter being a diagram to show what the ring would look like if cut through at one side and stretched out straight, showin the four cam recesses at the same time. t will be seem, therefore, that the two recemes 25 and 27 are diametrically opposite in the ring, and slope in the same direction circumferentially, but. are in, clined in opposite directions when the ring is viewed diametrically or with one recess immediately behind the other, so that at such time their lower edges appear to cross each other. Similarly, as shown. the lower edges of the cam recesses 24 and 26 slope in the same direction, circumferentially of the ring, and in an opposite direction to that of the recesses 25 and 27. whereby the desired action of the reversible ratchet device thus provided is obtained. Said cam recesses have their lower ends formed with depressions 28, and their upper ends formed with depressions 29, and it will be understood that the projections 23 extending laterally from the dogs are disposed in these recesses. whereby the handle 1 of the tool can be turned in either direction a distance limited or determined by the length of said cam recesses. lVhen the handle is turned in one direction, while the ring 2 is held stationary by the other hand, two of the dogs will be forced upward against their springs 19 and thus thrown out of engagement'with the holes 20 in the socket piece, while the other two dogs will, by engagement of their projections 23 with the depressions 28, be allowed to remain in engagement With the holes 20 of the socket piece. Thus. if the handle be twisted or swung in one direction, two of the dogs will be rendered inoperative and the other two dogs will operate to turn the socket piece a distance about its axis. on the other hand, if the handle be twisted or turned far enough in the opposite direction, the dogs that were previously operated become inoperative. and the dogs that were previously inoperative become operative to turn the socket piece in the desired direction. Always, of course, when the handle is twisted or swung forward to turn the socket piece 4 a distance, the handle can 7d then be returned or swung backward a distance, without producing any rotation of the socket piece so that a true ratchet action is obtained.

Any suitable materials can be used for the construction of the wrench or other tool shown and described. The universal joint. permits the handle to be swung down at right angles to the socket piece, as shown.and in such position the handle becomes a powerful lever to operate the tool. At the same time. however, and under certain conditions, the handle 1 can be merely twisted or turned about its longitudinal axis, so as to rotate the socket piece, thejoint 3 at such time functioning as a. true universal joint, so as to impart or transmit rotary motion about one axis to an element having rotary motion about another axis. in the manner of an ordinary universal joint. However, as shown and described, the universal joint employed is strong and simple. and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and obviates the necessity of using right angle pins or bolts to form the two right angle axes of the universal joint, the ball 5 providing the two axes which are necessary for this purpose. The curved sides of the member 7 work in the notches or recesses 10 and 11 of the member 12, and thelatterworks in the notches or recesses 13 and 14 of the member 7, of course, in a manner that will be readily understood. when the universal joint is flexed in one direction or another to render the operation of the tool easy and convenient.

It will be seen that the range of movement of the universal joint is at least ninety degrees, and even more, inasmuch as the construction is such that the flexibility of the joint is not limited by the distance between the two ends of the curved portions. inasmuch as these ends. while only spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the notch and the recesses 11 and 14. are free no to pass through the notches 10 and 13. whereby the ends of the curved portions 7 and 12 may be rather close together with out interfering with the operation of the joint. This is important. of course, inasmuch as in a wrench of this kind the universal joint must work at various angles, depending upon the circumstances and the conditions under which it is used. The member 15 is bored, it will be seen, to receive the springs 19, and to provide sockets for the cylindrical dogs 17 and 18 and 21 and 22, in the manner shown. A pivot screw 80, it will be seen, is inserted upwardly through the member linto the member 15, thereby to serve as a pivot or swivel upon which the member 4 is intermittently rotated by the action of the ratchet.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a ratchet wrench, a socket engaging member to be rotated intermittently by the ratchet, a ratchet member bored longitudinally to provide a plurality of sockets, cylindrical dogs in said sockets, ratchet teeth on said engaging member to engage said dogs, springs in said sockets to press said dogs into engagement with said ratchet teeth, lateral projections on said dogs, a ring having cams on its inner surfaceto engage said lateral projections, thereby to control said dogs to reverse the rotation of said engaging member, a screw inserted through the engaging member and into the ratchet member to form a swivel connection between one member and the other member, and a handle connected to said ratchet member.

2. In a universal joint wrench, the combination of a ball provided with circumferential grooves intersecting each other at right angles, a flat plate provided with curved portions held in oneof said grooves, a similar flat plate provided with curved portions held in the other groove, each plate having a notch for the ends of the curved portions of the other plate, a handle connected to the shank of one fiat plate, and means connected to the shank of the other plate to engage the nut or head of a bolt.

'3. In a wrench, the combination of a socket piece to engage a nut or the head of a bolt, a head piece, a screw inserted through the socket piece and into the head piece, to form a swivel, ratchet mechanism between the-socket piece and the head piece, said head piece having cavities spaced from said screw to hold some of the elements of said mechanism, a handle connected to the head piece, and a, universal joint through which said handl operates to turn said screw in said socket piece, when the wrench is operated.

LUDWIG STARK. 

